🥾 ActiveWeekend · from Salt Lake City, UT
Red Rocks, Desert Hikes & Starlight
Explore otherworldly desert landscapes and iconic red rock formations while chasing desert sunsets and starlit nights.
Day 1 — Goblin Valley State ParkDay 2 — Arches National Park
Day 1 — Goblin Valley State Park
Day 1 — Goblin Valley State Park
🚗 3 hr 48 min driving📍 5 stops
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Morning
🚗
Drive
Salt Lake City, UT → Goblin Valley State Park
3 hr 36 min8:00 AM → 11:36 AM
Goblin Valley State Park
★ 4.8Explore a otherworldly landscape of thousands of whimsical hoodoos and mushroom-shaped rock formations that feel like you've stepped onto an alien planet.
11:36 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch12:36 PM
Stan's Burger Shak
A Price, UT institution that's been serving hand-pressed burgers since before Utah's food scene existed. The kind of modest spot that out-delivers its appearance every time.
2 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Goblin Valley State Park → Little Wildhorse Canyon & Bell Canyon Trailhead
12 min1:36 PM → 1:48 PM
Little Wildhorse Canyon & Bell Canyon Trailhead
★ 4.9Hike through stunning slot canyon narrows with striped red and cream-colored walls, then climb Bell Canyon's slickrock switchbacks for panoramic desert vistas. This 8-mile loop combines intimate canyon passages with expansive high-country views.
1:48 PM📍 See location
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Evening
🍽️ Dinner5:00 PM
Mesa Farm Market
A beloved organic farm cafe and market in the San Rafael Swell area — pick up fresh-made sandwiches, local produce, and homemade baked goods to enjoy as the desert cools at dusk.
2 options · tap to switch
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Muddy Creek Mining Company
Glamping cabins near Goblin Valley amid the San Rafael Swell — the surrounding landscape is other-planetary, and the dark skies here rank among the darkest in the lower 48. The kind of place that earns 4.9 stars because there's truly nothing else like it.
Day 2 — Arches National Park
Day 2 — Arches National Park
🚗 2 hr 39 min driving📍 5 stops
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Morning
🚗
Drive
Goblin Valley State Park → Arches National Park
1 hr 54 min8:00 AM → 9:54 AM
Arches National Park
★ 4.8Marvel at over 2,000 natural stone arches set against striking red rock landscapes, including the iconic Delicate Arch that defines Utah's beauty.
9:54 AM📍 See location
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Lunch
🍽️ Lunch10:54 AM
Moab Diner
A Moab classic with efficiently prepared American diner food that hits exactly what you need after a morning at Arches or Canyonlands. The milkshakes are a local ritual.
4 options · tap to switch
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Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Arches National Park → Devil's Garden Trail
8 min12:00 PM → 12:08 PM
Devil's Garden Trail
★ 4.9Traverse an otherworldly landscape of twisted hoodoos and natural arches, navigating slickrock fins and colorful badlands formations. The trail rewards hikers with sweeping views of the Henry Mountains and San Rafael Swell at multiple scenic overlooks.
12:08 PM📍 See location
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Evening
🚗
Drive
Devil's Garden Trail → Trailhead Public House and Eatery
37 min5:00 PM → 5:37 PM
🍽️ Dinner5:37 PM
Trailhead Public House and Eatery
Refuel after your adventure with craft beers and farm-to-table cuisine in Moab's most welcoming gathering spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
4 options · tap to switch
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Consider staying overnight
The drive home from Arches National Park is 4h 3m — consider staying overnight and driving back in the morning.
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